In the news...
Old Greenwich Dental Associates Welcomes Dr. Thalia Sing to their Family Dental
Team
Old Greenwich
Dental: Taking the Fear Out of Dentistry
Health Care For Baby Teeth
Children's Dentistry at its Best
Kids Can Enjoy the
Dentist, Thanks to OGDA
New Family Dentist Dentist Welcomed
Old Greenwich Dental Associates Welcomes Dr. Thalia Sing to their Family Dental
Team
Greenwich, December 2006 / County Kids / -- Dr. Greg M. Busch and
staff embrace the addition of Dr. Thalia Sing to their office. Dr. Sing has
special training as a Pedodontist (a dentist that specializes in treating
children) and is excited to start as an associate with Old Greenwich Dental
Associates. Dr. Busch and staff are looking forward to having her as an
additional resource and her expertise will ultimately better the level of
service in their family dental practice. Dr. Sing brings with her a wealth of
knowledge and experience as well as a caring temperament, a warm smile, and a
special connection and appeal to children. Dr. Sing says, "My hard work and
diligence has lead me to become a competent professional but my desires to work
with children were still unfulfilled. My goals and passion brought me the the
completion of my post doctorate residency specializing in pediatric dentistry at
Lutheran Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY." Dr. Sing continued saying that the
residency helped her in experience with comprehensive and emergency pediatric
patient care and working alongside a multidisciplinary team. Working with
children takes a special person, talent, and drive. Dr. Sing strives to
exemplify all of these characteristics with every child she treats.
Dr. Sing enjoys being an active part of a community and is currently
associated with the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental
Association, the Dental Society of New York, and the Nassau County Dental
Society and is looking forward to getting involved in the Fairfield
County/Greenwich Community as well. She has an outstanding record serving the
communities in which she has been a part of with community service activities
such as performing screening, oral hygiene, preventative and nutritional
counseling for Brooklyn Public Schools grades K-5. Dr. Sing has also researched
the Assessment of Pediatricians' Knowledge of Dental Carries Risk Factors in the
Northeast Region and found that better communication between between different
medical specialties is proactive in the prevention of disease. Also, earlier
dental visits for children (6 months to 1 year) combined with better educated
parents can make all the difference in overall health of children by raising the
awareness level and controlling preventable issues.
Dr. Sing says, "My interest in dentistry stems from positive experiences as a
pediatric dentist in a dental office. Although others may have feared visits to
the dental visit, while growing up I never shared that apprehension. My
pediatric dentist made visits both enjoyable and fun." She continues by
explaining that, "These is nothing more rewarding than the ability to make a
difference in a child's perception of his/her experience with a healthcare
provider and to follow and care continuously through the most crucial
development of human anatomy." She sees herself as a person who will treat
children as children and use her continuous education, professional development
and personality to ensure that dental visits are productive and fun for both
children and their parents, similar to the experiences she had as a child.
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Old Greenwich
Dental: Taking the Fear Out of Dentistry
Greenwich, July 2006 /Greenwich Citizen/ -- There are two aspects of
the dentist that many people fear: experiencing discomfort during their
appointments and experiencing discomfort when receiving the bill.
Everyone knows someone who, every time they go to the dentist, has something
that needs to be fixed - a cavity to be restored, or a crown, or a root canal,
etc. All tend to be costly, time consuming and, in some offices, uncomfortable.
The goal of Dr. Greg M. Busch, head of Old Greenwich Dental Associates, is to
work with people to ensure that they don't have any new dental diseases, and
also to make people as comfortable as possible during their visits. Busch
accomplishes this by spending the right amount of time with clients when they
come to the office as new patients.
Old Greenwich Dental Associates has a new-patient process, in which Busch
diagnoses each new patient's dental situation. He then delivers a treatment plan
that is outlined and explained to the patient prior to any work beginning. This
is also a time when Busch explains dental procedures in an understandable,
informative fashion. He also sets aside time for the patient to ask him any
questions they might have.
"I want you to ultimately understand that it is the quality of work you do at
home which really makes the difference," says Busch.
Preventative Maintenance
This process continues through hygiene visits, which Busch terms "Preventative
Maintenance Visits" for a specific reason.
Not only are a patient's teeth cleaned during these sessions, but also, perhaps
more importantly, Busch reviews home-care strategies and creates a plan just for
him or her.
Old Greenwich Dental seeks to narrow down what is causing dental disease as well
as work with patients to fix their own tooth maladies so that they can learn to
maintain their dental hygiene in only a couple minutes each day.
Ninety-five percent of the patients at Old Greenwich Dental Associates have note
experienced new disease after becoming a patient.
Busch's philosophy may sound unorthodox because he is trying to prevent
situations before the become severe, rather than attempting to remedy them once
they are a big problem. That's why home-care and education are Busch's main
concerns.
At Old Greenwich Dental Associates, Busch and his fellow dentists look to pass
on approaches that have been proven to work in getting patients to the point
where they only need to visit the dentist once every six months.
Contrary to the common misconception that two trips to the dentist per year
solves all dental problems, cleaning your teeth without the proper home-care
instruction as provided by Busch lasts for only 24 hours. It is the home-care
that will have a long-term, positive effect on a client's dental health.
People are busy these days, and Busch and his dentists understand that, which is
why their office tries to accommodate their patients with as few visits as
possible.
Busch also understands that cost is a main concern for most people, and he looks
to offer the highest possible service so that problems don't persist and that so
patients don't have to continue paying for the same dental problems over and
over again.
Some people may be fearful of the dentist and Busch looks to remedy
this by providing each patient with a relaxed environment that includes
comfortable, needle-less injections called syrijet (a spray form of injection),
music and video in rooms, and a friendly highly trained staff.
For information, call Old Greenwich Dental Associates at 637-0665.
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Health Care For Baby Teeth
Greenwich, June 2006 /Countykids/ -- Not something that most parents
may worry about because their children lose all their baby teeth anyway! Most
parents want something better for their child than what they had, and the only
way to accomplish this is through education and putting things in the right
perspective. This is what Dr. Greg M. Busch, DDS, MPH has based his dental
practice and his personal life on: future planning and prevention. Obviously, he
has a "leg up" with extensive training in dentistry and a two year old son. When
a parent knows what he knows, passing on information to their children is easy.
Here are some helpful hints to parents so that they will be able to anticipate
and plan for upcoming changes throughout their children's dental growth and
progression.
- The American Dental Association suggests that children see a dentist by
their first birthday. If possible parents should have their children seen in
an office like Old Greenwich Dental Associates, a family full service
office, because a full service office is able to handle many more situations
that may arise and accommodate your children through adulthood.
- Parents should start cleaning their children's teeth with a tooth towel,
wash cloth, or a piece of gauze , as soon as the teeth begin to show through
the gums. This will remove much of the bacteria that form, as it is bacteria
that cause tooth decay. Parents can watch for teeth to start to peep
through around 6 months of age.
- Bottle mouth can become a factor if you give your baby apple juice,
other sugar filled drinks, and even formula, then don't clean their teeth
after eating. Also, if bottles are left with babies for too long then severe
decay can occur in an early age.
- Brushing with your child should begin when your child turns one year
old, and it should be a fun event and encouraged and taught by a parent. Use
a natural toothpaste that is flavored. If children are drinking bottled
water a good portion of the time then they may be lacking fluoride and
should make sure to have regular 6 month check-ups and fluoride treatments,
some toothpaste may contain fluoride but it is not always enough when
brushing two times a day.
- Sealants can be used and should be evaluated around the age of six.
Sealants are clear protective coverings and can be very helpful in
preventing decay. X-rays should be taken on a regular basis and are
imperative in diagnosing and "nipping problems in the bud" while they are
small. They are also valuable in determining bone structure, how the
permanent teeth are coming in, and identifying cysts and other abnormalities
early on.
- Your child should be examined by a dentist at the beginning of any sign
of pain or if your child falls or bangs their teeth, because this can damage
the nerve (blood vessel), a vital part of the tooth.
- A child's diet can also have a great impact on their dental health,
whether their homecare is sound or not. It is always better to stay away
from processed food and drink that contain a lot of sugar. Candy, soda, and
fast foods are not nutritious and can cause hyperactivity and un overall
unhealthy situation. Homemade meals save on money and the ingredients can be
controlled by the parents. A well balanced diet with great homecare can
certainly help children during this delicate time in their development. It
is important for children to take care of their primary (baby) teeth,
even though they don't lose them. Decay in baby teeth can lead to an
unfavorable and costly situation if primary teeth are are lost before they
should be, and if the decay of those teeth has an effect on the permanent
teeth coming in.
- You should schedule your child's first trip to the dentist along side
your preventative maintenance visits so they will feel secure early on in
their first years. Starting out and keeping children on a secure 6 month
schedule is a great way to make certain they never have dentures or future
costly and uncomfortable dental problems later in life. Your parenting
partnership with your child can ensure a solid and healthy dental future.
Call Greg M. Busch, DDS, MPH for any questions or concerns he or his staff
will be happy to answer any questions you may have at 203-637-0665.
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Children's Dentistry at its Best
Greenwich, June 2006 /Greenwich Citizen: Kids Corner Edition 2006/ --
Dr. Busch says "Most people my age grew up in a generation where a piece of
fruit was considered a snack, cheerios was breakfast, and the fridge was filled
with milk and not soda." This was a time when children were shooed away from the
TV and ordered to go outside and play on a nice day. Today, it seems that people
have become too consumed with New Year's resolutions and low carb, Atkins and
South Beach Diets, etc. Everything becomes a quick fix for things that have been
put off , rather than a steady preventative method. "Now, I am not boasting
myself as the healthiest person around, but I maintain a level of health that I
comfortable with based on what I learned as a child," said Dr. Busch, Head of
Pediatric Dentistry at Old Greenwich Dental Associates. Being able to better
accommodate children is why Dr. Busch is so excited about heading up the new
Pediatric Wing.
At OGDA, we have always had strong results with children when the parents
become involved with the dental process at home. There are a number fun
motivating tools that will encourage children to come to the dental office, most
of which we have, but the only way to properly educate a child to be healthy is
by involving the parents. Positive attitudes from parents about dentists and
dental visits combined with the strong educational and motivational program that
we provide can have a great effect on the child's ability and consistency in
maintaining their dental health. Many times, parents unknowingly "pass on"
negative messages about the dentist to their children. This can cause
apprehension and nervousness for the child, not only while they are at the
dentist, but also before and after the visit. The first dental visit for a child
will be laced with feelings of curiosity and comfort, but often they will be
able to detect fear and uneasiness from the accompanying parent, which may in
turn pass on untrue suspicions about otherwise comfortable procedures. It is
valuable for parents to understand that an encouraging attitude along with just
being there is assistance enough for the child.
The way that children maintain their health has an effect developmentally on
the rest of their lives, and the habits they form will carry on through college
into adulthood.
For more information or to set up and appointment call, 203-637-0665
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Kids Can Enjoy the Dentist,
Thanks to OGDA
Greenwich, January 6, 2006 /Greenwich Citizen/ -- Dr. Greg Busch of
Old Greenwich Dental Associates on Sound Beach Avenue remembers going to the
dentist for his first regular hygiene visit as a child. A medicinal smell
lingered in the room, which he described a claustrophobic and having only one
window.
When he was 12, he landed in another dentist's office with two broken front
teeth after falling headfirst in a supermarket following some horseplay with his
brother. This time the environment was welcoming and put him at ease.
He hopes children who come to the new pediatric wing that opened Monday at
Old Greenwich Dental Associates will feel the same way - comfortable and not
intimidated.
The pediatric wing, which formerly housed rooms for orthodontics and
periodontics, was five months in the making, explained Busch. He said he wanted
to help kids have a better first experience than he had has a child.
You won't find tight, dark scary rooms in the new pediatric wing, which
welcomes kids as soon as they set foot in walking room. A cheerful mural
depicting a jungle scene, painted by local photographer Tiffany Roskos, embraces
visitors right away. Inside the dentist's rooms, which are more spacious than
those in the adult wing, light pours in from large windows.
Instead of looking at plain old lights in the ceiling, kids are treated to
illuminated jets flying overhead. The scenes can be changed - hot air balloons
and aquariums are among the options. And if that's not enough to distract kids,
they can enjoy a movie on a flat screen TV that hangs above the dentist's chair.
The amount of intimidating dentist's tools, such as drills and air handpieces
and scaling devices, has been scaled back to make environment even more
kid-friendly.
Not only is the environment unique, but so is Old Greenwich Dental
Associates' philosophy. The goals established by Dr. Busch and Dr. A. Vandiveer
Strait are straightfoward: Help patients achieve a healthy and beautiful smile
and keep it that way without any new dental diseases for a lifetime.
Ninety-five percent of their patients never get any new dental disease due to
their unique preventative technology, they reported.
Plaque control, cleaning, fluoride treatments, antibacterial therapy,
microscopic cultures, nutritional counseling and sealants are all routine.
Microscopic cultures are typically done on adults during patient's hygiene visit
and are a valuable diagnostic tool used for determining the type of bacteria
causing dental disease.
Once this is identified, antibacterial therapy is the method used to
eliminate the bacteria and a preventative program is developed for each person
individually. According to Busch, people become motivated to do better at home
when they understand what their situations are and they have been given a way to
maintain a healthy mouth.
"We stress home care and sealants," he said. He explained that a sealant is a
plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of premolars
and molars. The plastic bonds into the depressions and grooves of the chewing
surfaces of the back teeth, acting as a barrier that protects enamel from plaque
acid that cause cavities.
Whether kids are getting sealants applied, being fitted for Invisalign or
simply visiting the dentist for regular hygiene, Busch suggests that parents
refrain from discussing their own personal experiences with their children.
"It's better for them not to say anything. A bad experience may come across
even though they don't want it to.
"Let your child's first experience be theirs, not yours," he said.
For information, call 637-0665
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New Family Dentist Dentist Welcomed
Greenwich, January 2006 /County Kids: Bulletin Board/ --
Old Greenwich Dental Associates would like to announce they have appointed Greg
M. Busch, DDS, Head of Pediatric Health and the Technical Director of Old
Greenwich Pediatric Dentistry. Dr. Busch said, "I'm sure we would all would
appreciate our children having cavity free lives. As a parent and a dentist, I
have to motivate my child to brush and floss every day. Based on my experience,
I believe that children will often hear stories about the dentist from grandma,
grandpa, mom and dad and these stories may make the child apprehensive or
unoptimistic about their future dental appointments. We can help your child have
a great dental experience from the start."
Dr. Strait, Technical Director and Head of General and Cosmetic
Dentistry at Old Greenwich Dental Associates said, "Helping families stay
healthy is the reason why I became a dentist. After being in practice for 30
plus years, I know that education and prevention is the key to pain free
dentistry. I have always stressed this with my patients of all ages, and when
this is reinforced from an early age the results are astounding." Over the past
three years Dr. Strait has worked closely with Dr. Busch to pas on his
successful method in effectively working with families as well as children.
Old Greenwich Dental Associates, located at 182 Sound Beach Ave.
in Old Greenwich , will hold an open house in the children's wing on Jan 2 from
6-8p.m. to meet and talk with Dr. Strait Dr. Busch, and the staff. Come check
out the hand-painted mural and child friendly office. For more information call
203-637-0665
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